The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-04-07
The Source of Danger.

m6QLluR Oh leLteA "AA'eeA ~
Justice O'Neall on "The Source of Dan
ger" to our country. AS the same source
of danger exist to-day in regard to the
government of our country, trustit may
not be amiss to republish in your valua'
Bile paper the article in full. d.
South Carolina has one man at least
who is not only an honor to the State
and the South, but to the whole country.
That man is Chief Justice John Belton
O'Neall. He is unique. For many
years we have frequently observed bis
name in the journals Of South Carolina
and other States, but never in connection
With party politics as such. Though
possessing abilities of the first order, he
makes no pretensions and deems nothing
beneath him by which he can elevate the
character of his fellow-citizens and
promote public and private virtue,
honesty, peace and good order He is
never idle. He keeps his tongue aud his
pen perpetually employed, and their
object is to make men better, purer, more
united and more prosperous and happy.
Whenever he goes into little country
village, he calls the villagers around him
and addresses them in favor of public
and private morals, industry and temper
ance; and. if there is village paper,
forthwith he sits down and pens COM
munication to it in advocacy of the same
noble and glorious and really useful
objects. He does not consider it beneath
his dignity as Chief Justice Of the State
to do 80. Nor does he affect modesty
and use anonyms. he invariably signs
his name in full to every letter he writes.
He pleads for the cultivation Of all those
great qualities Of the heart that distin-
guish man from the brute, and elevate
him in the scale of intelligence. He
considers these as absolutely essential to
the maintenance of our free institutions,
to our prosperity, strength, unity, and
happiness. He does not content himself
with merely giving this as his opinion.
He loses no opportunity to give these
ideas vital force, to make them living
and active entities, to spread them
abroad through every portion OF the.
country. They are the burden of his
thoughts, the objects of his ceaseless
efforts. He inculcates them upon the
high and low, upon the ignorant, and the
learned alike, upon all occasions and
under all proper circumstances-from
the bench, by his own example, by oral
addresses to his fellow-citizens, and by
his pen through the village and city
press. He is sort of modern Washing
ton, and has, we think, made that great
character his model. We know of no
man in this country who appears to be
more thoroughly unsel6sb, who appears
more anxious to advance the real inter-
ests of his fellow citizens of the whole
country, or who labors harder to do3it.
His style is simple and suupretending,
but be has the courage Of a Spartan, and
utters calmly and firmly sentiments that
cut to the quick the drunken, gambling.
thieviDg politicians that seem to have
almost taken possession of the govern
ment of this country. We have read and
re-read with increasing admiration the
following words, mild, but blunt and
outspoken, aud which strike at the very
core of the evils that are upon us, which
we copy from the Mobile Advertiser but
which appeared originally in the New
berry is. c } Rising Sun, under date of
April 18th. Referring to the breakup
of the Charleston Convention, and the
condition of the country, he proceeds
thus:
"My confidence and hope is in the
merciful overruling Of Divine Providence.
God has hitherto helped US, and l still
believe that he will overrulet the madness
of men, and bring to us good, greater
good than we deserve
"How religious men can counsel vic.
lence and goad the people on to results
which may bring abouta servile war, or
array section against section, is, to me
strange passing strange.
ri pretend to be no politician; ]
belong to the country. Ihave grown up
under its mild and fostering rule. IhaVe
been blessed; and I trust have not been
ungrateful. The star spangled banner
has Aoated in glory and triumph over my
head from infancy. -.
"I have looked to it as the protector of
my rights, everywhere, and in the East,
South, West and North, and in the
provinces of Her Majesty, the Queen, i
have looked proudly to the stars and
stripes, and said: "TheSe are the
emblems of my free and happy homel'
Are these to be pulled down and tram
Piled in the dust by mad and corrupt
politicians? God forbid |! Freemen-
descendants of the Patriots of '76-it is
your duty to prevent such a disastrous
result!
"Calmly and firmly you must deter
mine that your country shall live. Place
the best and purest man within your
reach at the head of your government.
Purge your Congress. Every corrupt,
licentious, rowdy, gambling. drinking
man should be sent home. Then you
may look for reign of honesty and
virtue. Until that be done, how can you
expect the blessing of God? Are
drunken, corrupt Legislators to minister
for you at the altars of your country :?
If so, what results are you to expect?
asceues," such as you have witnessed in
the past year. I have shuddered at
reading the ribaldry and sbuse in the
Decentralization r. would